Ezra 4:13
Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse isn't just about taxes; it's a manipulative ploy designed to exploit the king's deepest fear: losing control and money. The Samaritans deliberately list "toll, tribute, and custom" in a specific, unsettling order to suggest a complete breakdown of the king's financial authority, hinting that a fortified Jerusalem would become a defiant, self-sufficient power, ultimately costing the empire far more than just uncollected taxes.
The Samaritans, hearing that the returned exiles are rebuilding Jerusalem, write a letter to King Artaxerxes filled with accusations and warnings. They claim that if the city's walls are finished, the Jews will rebel and stop paying any taxes, ultimately damaging the king's income and his dominion. This charge aims to incite the king's anger and halt the rebuilding efforts, following earlier accusations made against the people of Judah.
Ever feel like someone's twisting the truth to make you look bad? That's exactly what the Samaritans are doing here.
The Samaritans lodge a complaint against the returning Jews, not with a direct threat, but with a cleverly crafted argument aimed at manipulating the Persian king's fears.
Framing the Issue
Instead of saying, 'The Jews are defiant!', they say, 'If this city is rebuilt and its walls finished...' They paint a picture of future rebellion.
The Economic Threat
Their main weapon? Economics. They claim the Jews, once fortified, will stop paying taxes ('tribute, custom, or toll'). This hits the king where it hurts – his treasury. This wasn't just about the Jews; it was about the king's 'royal revenue' being 'impaired'.
A Timeless Tactic
This strategy – to portray a group as an economic or security threat – is an old one. It's designed to make rulers act out of self-interest and fear, rather than justice.
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What exactly are 'tribute, custom, and toll'? The Samaritans list them to make their case sound solid.
The Samaritans use a trifecta of tax terms to convince the king of the financial disaster that rebuilding Jerusalem would cause. While scholars debate the exact nuances, the general idea is clear: the Jews would cease all forms of payment to the empire.
A Comprehensive List
The Message: Economic Independence
By listing these, the Samaritans imply that a fortified Jerusalem would become self-sufficient and defiant, refusing to contribute anything to the Persian economy. It's a way of saying, 'They'll become a burden, not a benefit, to your empire.'
Understand the original words
mindah · Aramaic Noun
A recurring payment made by a subordinate state or people to a superior power, signifying submission, sovereignty, or required tax obligation.
The Samaritans' argument in Ezra 4:13 is a shrewd political maneuver. By framing the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls as a threat to royal revenue and potentially a precursor to rebellion, they exploit the Persian Empire's administrative concerns and appeal to the king's self-interest.
605 BC
First Deportation to Babylon
King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon captures Jerusalem and deports a significant portion of the population, including members of the royal family and skilled workers, to Babylon. This marks the beginning of the Babylonian exile.
586 BC
Destruction of Jerusalem and Temple
Nebuchadnezzar returns, destroying Jerusalem and its walls, and burning the Temple. The remaining population is exiled to Babylon. This event leaves Jerusalem desolate and undefended.
539 BC
Cyrus the Great Conquers Babylon
Cyrus the Great of Persia defeats the Babylonian Empire. He issues a decree allowing exiled peoples, including the Jews, to return to their homelands and rebuild their temples.
538 BC
First Return of Exiles to Jerusalem
Under the leadership of Zerubbabel, a large group of Jewish exiles returns to Judah. They begin the process of rebuilding the Temple, facing initial opposition.
c. 515 BC
Dedication of the Second Temple
The rebuilt Temple is finally dedicated, though it is a much humbler structure than Solomon's original Temple. Opposition to Jewish rebuilding efforts continues intermittently.
c. 458 BC
Ezra's Commission and Return
Ezra the scribe leads another group of exiles back to Jerusalem. He is commissioned by the Persian king Artaxerxes I with religious and administrative authority.
c. 445-433 BC— this verse
Nehemiah's Commission and Rebuilding of Walls
Nehemiah, cupbearer to King Artaxerxes I, is appointed governor of Judah and receives permission to rebuild Jerusalem's walls. This effort faces fierce opposition from surrounding peoples.
This passage shows a similar accusation where rivals claim that rebuilding Jerusalem's walls is a sign of rebellion against the king, echoing the same fear of lost revenue and authority.
Psalm 2:1-6This psalm speaks of rulers conspiring against the Lord and His anointed, highlighting a spiritual rebellion that often underlies political opposition and territorial disputes like the one in Ezra.
Matthew 22:17-21Jesus' response about paying taxes to Caesar demonstrates the complex relationship between earthly rulers and divine allegiance, a tension present when the Samaritans accuse the Jews of withholding tribute.
Acts 17:6-7The accusation that the early Christians were turning the world upside down and acting against Caesar's decrees mirrors the political fears used to discredit the returning exiles who were rebuilding their city.
gillEzra 4:13: "Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings."
Be it known now unto the king,.... And let it be seriously and thoroughly considered by him and his counsellors: that if this city be builded, and its walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom; being able to defend themselves against the king's forces, sent to reduc…
clarkeEzra 4:13: "Be it known now unto the king, that, if this city be builded, and the walls set up again, then will they not pay toll, tribute, and custom, and so thou shalt endamage the revenue of the kings."
Toll, tribute, and custom - The first term is supposed to imply the capitation tax; the second, an excise on commodities and merchandise; the third, a sort of land tax. Others suppose the first means a property tax; the second, a poll tax; and the third, what was paid on imports and exports.…
This verse isn't just about taxes; it's a manipulative ploy designed to exploit the king's deepest fear: losing control and money. The Samaritans deliberately list "toll, tribute, and custom" in a specific, unsettling order to suggest a complete breakdown of the king's financial authority, hinting that a fortified Jerusalem would become a defiant, self-sufficient power, ultimately costing the empire far more than just uncollected taxes.
The Samaritans, hearing that the returned exiles are rebuilding Jerusalem, write a letter to King Artaxerxes filled with accusations and warnings. They claim that if the city's walls are finished, the Jews will rebel and stop paying any taxes, ultimately damaging the king's income and his dominion. This charge aims to incite the king's anger and halt the rebuilding efforts, following earlier accusations made against the people of Judah.
The Samaritans, hearing that the returned exiles are rebuilding Jerusalem, write a letter to King Artaxerxes filled with accusations and warnings. They claim that if the city's walls are finished, the Jews will rebel and stop paying any taxes, ultimately damaging the king's income and his dominion. This charge aims to incite the king's anger and halt the rebuilding efforts, following earlier accusations made against the people of Judah.
"Now be it known to the king that if this city is rebuilt and the walls finished, they will not pay tribute, custom, or toll, and the royal revenue will be impaired." — This verse isn't just about taxes; it's a manipulative ploy designed to exploit the king's deepest fear: losing control and money. The Samaritans deliberately list "toll, tribute, and custom" in a sp…
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